Besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economy boosting foreign tours, India is on the front page for the wrong reasons. Instead of focusing on major issues like poverty and illiteracy — the government has grabbed the attention by imposing one ban after the other, from the ban on cuss words in films to the thorny issue of beef.
Through this ban, beef has been banned outright — with those who flout the new law facing a hefty fine and up to five years in jail. Comparatively, the gravity of the punishment for cow slaughter is much more stringent compared to other crimes like rape, murder, possession of fake currency and drunk driving.
Hardline Hindus have started communal violence in the calling for a national ban on cow slaughter. Though, the basic principle of all religions is “love”, our leaders are ardent in forcedly imposing their religious sentiments on all people instead of encouraging this value.
In the world’s largest democracy, citizens elect their leaders with lots of hope, expecting both financial and moral growth. But, great and demagogic politicians turn their backs when it comes to matters of human safety.
Girls and toddlers continue to be raped, their pain and cries drowning after a few ripples of protest, and with the final blame of the situation being hoarded on them.
India, the land that gave birth to four religions and enshrined both secularism and free speech in its constitution has failed itself. Tolerance is important not only for harmony within the country, but also for India’s considerable soft power abroad. After his failure to win the Bihar elections, Modi better realise that it’s well past time to close this never-ending debate of his, and focus on opening the doors for the development of Mother India.
— The reader is an Indian electrical engineer based in Sharjah
